Renewable energy study reveals funding challenges

A study into renewable energy projects in Western Australia's Goldfields-Esperance region shows projects receiving only partial government funding often do not succeed because they are unable to secure private funding.

The study, by Regional Development Australia (RDA) Goldfields-Esperance, identifies current and proposed clean energy projects in the area like the Mungair solar project between Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, wind farms in Esperance and rooftop solar panels.

RDA board member Gregory Benvenuti says there is a complicated regulatory environment in what energy is on or off the power grid.

He says a challenge in installing renewable energy in remote areas is the extra costs.

"Often what happens is that projects can get support from government but then they battle to, it's never 100 per cent support from the government - you obviously have to come up with your own private funds and that's often where these projects hit the barrier," he said.

"Especially with more or less developed technology like wave."

He says although the study shows the regulatory environment and the higher cost of installing renewable energy can seem prohibitive, it still makes sense.

"[There is] extra cost of installing renewable energy in remote areas, however, that is counterbalanced by the fact that energy is much more expensive in those remote areas," he said.

"From a financial point of view it does make sense to do it, it's just about getting the process going and showing that it can be done."

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